Chase-Morley Papers, 1867-1925

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Summary

Creators:
Chase, Manly M. Morley, William R.
Abstract:
The collection consists of correspondence and manuscripts of and related to New Mexico rancher Manly M. Chase and William R. Morley, his wife, Ada M. Morley Jarrett, and their family, chiefly dating from the 1880s to the early 1900s. The bulk of the papers consist of the personal and business correspondence of Manly M. Chase and Ada M. Morley Jarrett; there are also some records related to the S.M. Chase Cattle Company.
Extent:
168 items in 1 box and 11 volumes
Language:
The records are in English .

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of the correspondence and manuscripts of and related to New Mexico rancher Manly M. Chase and William R. Morley, his wife, Ada M. Morley, and their family, chiefly dating from the 1880s to the early 1900s. The bulk of the papers consist of the personal and business correspondence of Manly M. Chase and Ada M. Morley; there are also some records related to the S.M. Chase Cattle Company. The material is arranged chronologically and can be categorized into manuscripts, correspondence, ephemera, and letter books.

Manuscripts include memorandums, an affidavit, a bond, and written articles about Morley family members, Ada M. and Agnes Morley. The bulk of the manuscripts consist of legal materials regarding the Morley estate and children, W.R. Morley and Ada L. Morley. Manuscripts also include official court papers, bank statements, and legal agreement drafts.

The bulk of the correspondence consists of letters from Ada M. (Morley) Jarrett to Manly M. Chase about various personal and business matters. Notable items include Ada M. (Morley) Jarrett’s letter to Manly M. Chase in which she expresses her thoughts about the death of her husband, W.R. Morley, and written letters regarding the guardianship of Chase over her children. Her other correspondence covers subjects such as business advice, stocks, land, legal issues, and family matters. Other types of correspondence in the collection include letters written to Manly M. Chase from individuals who include Agnes Morley, Floyd Jarrett, Henry Chase, Lucretia Mitchell, W.M. Eads, and W.J. Stanton. These letters cover a variety of personal and business issues related to Chase’s life. Subject matters include business transactions, legal issues, money matters, and personal matters regarding the lives of the Morley children. Notable items also include several telegrams that recount the death of William R. Morley.

The papers also include some ephemera which include materials such as envelopes and handwritten notes on scratch pieces of paper by Manly M. Chase. The collection also includes a photograph (1879) of the Morley children.

The papers also contain 11 letter books that contain the personal and business correspondence of Manly M. Chase. The letter books are arranged chronologically and include correspondence and financial ledgers. These books are housed with the collection. Each letter book deals with the day-to-day business matters and transactions of Manly M. Chase, which include the sale of cattle, sheep, wool, and fruit from the orchards. Also included are the personal itemized grocery lists of Manly M. Chase and information on payments made to business associates. Other correspondence subject matter includes written contractual agreements, livestock advice, personal and legal matters regarding Ada M. (Morley) Jarrett, and issues concerning the Maxwell Land Grant Co., Red River Cattle Co., and Gila Cattle Co. Along with letter book 1 is a Quitclaim Deed for Manly M. Chase which was found inserted near the book's cover page. Letter book 9 contains a folder with an index of names associated with the ledger contents. Letter book 10 also includes an inserted folder that contains typed and handwritten manuscripts of the minutes of the annual meeting of the stockholders of S.M. Chase Cattle Company which was found inserted near the cover page. Letter book 11 includes an inserted folder that contains an accounts payable ledger and typed letters regarding payments made to the S.M. Chase Cattle Company. Several of the letter books have newspaper clippings in them as well.

Biographical / historical:

Manly M. Chase (1842-1915) was born in Wisconsin on October 8, 1842. Before founding the Chase Ranch, Chase and his father worked as merchants who sold beef and other goods to miners. Manly Chase and his wife Teresa settled in New Mexico in 1867 and purchased a portion of the Maxwell Land Grant to start a cattle ranch. Chase successfully raised livestock such as cattle and sheep, managing companies such as the Maxwell Cattle Company and the Chase, Eno and Company. Chase was also well-known for his orchards which primarily produced apples.

Manly Chase and Teresa were close friends with William R. Morley Sr. and his wife Ada. After Morley’s accidental death--accidentally shot on his way to Mexico in January 1883--Chase assumed responsibility of the Morley Estate and the welfare of the Morley children, W.R. and Ada L. Morley. Ada M. Morley continued to conduct business with Chase and owned shares in various cattle companies and lands. Their relationship was strained due to the court struggle over the estate of the Morley children and Chase’s guardianship role. Ada M. Morley married Floyd Jarrett in 1884, though he deserted the family around 1889. Manly M. Chase died in 1915, but his sons went on to continue the Chase Ranch business.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mrs. Troy Smith, December 15, 1956.
Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, please visit the Huntington's website: www.huntington.org.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website